Near perfect bike parts

[Shawn G]

What's on your list of bike parts that just plain work better than you hoped for/leave little room for improvement?

My short list includes:

DA 7800 brakes - I cannot imagine a better performing brake. Say what you will, but Shimano stuff just plain gets it done. There are lighter, prettier, more colorful, blah, blah, blah brakes out there, but none have the stopping power combined with perfect feel that the 7800s do for my money. Flame away.

Chris King headsets - 'nuff said

Shawn G

[labratmatt]

Thomson zero offset seat posts.
Thomson X2 stems.
Shimano SPD pedal system.

[niedz]

Shimano SPD pedal system.

really? for off-road?
where do you live/ride?
out here on the east coast rocks mud and logs eat these things up.
for cyclocross they are nearly impossible to clip into once packed up with mud.
give me a set of time ATAC aliums!

white industries SS freewheels
WI hubsets
and a +1 on pauls neo-retros
DT swiss competition spokes w/ brass nipples
stans tubeless rims
brooks b17

[Dekonick]

DKS rear
Brooks B-17
AR leather wrap
King headset
A bike that fits.

[Dave Wages]

[ATTACH]Mavic 001.jpg[/ATTACH]

How about these sweet Mavic brakes that were made by Dia-Compe. Not super panic stoppers but smooth and reliable, and oohhh so sexy and clean. Hidden internal springs, those qr's that rotate in line with the brake arms and the easy to use adjuster barrels that never get lost when the brakes are off the bike.

I got so excited I had to run down to the basement and take these pics.



Oh yeah, Clement Criterium Setas, 'nuf said!

[dookie]

what can i say that hasn't been? it's like y'all *really* know bikes or something...

dt hubs
ssc brakes
salmon pads
sidi
brooks tape/saddle
king hs
well done fillet (i'm partial to my scapin)
campy (delta, c-rec, ergos, anything w/bearings, etc)
white freewheels & eno
moots welds
corsa evo cx (incl open)
da spd-sl
the steel master builders (one day...)

[ron l edmiston]

oval concept bar/stem
campagnolo
san marco
sidi
sachs water bottle
joe bell
veloflex

[Ken Robb]

I thought of another. I love my Brooks B-17 and Pro saddles.
I bought a bike with an Arione on it. I just KNEW it was an ass-hatchet the first time I saw it but I'm cheap so I tried it anyway. It was so comfy that I now own 3 of them. Who knew?

[Dave]

"imperfection is perfection"

[swoop]

Sidi Shoes.

[Sasha]

I have a few reference points -
Cinelli Cork Tape - There's nothing that feels better
Selle Italia Flite Saddle -
King and Elite Ciussi cages - I don't know why people bother with anything else

[znfdl]

My Spectrum Ti
Koobi saddles

[Saab2000]

This saddle

[gregl]

This saddle

+1. Actually, +5. I have one on every road/cross bike I own.
Also, the Shimano SPD-SL pedals in there various types. Especially the newer ones with a steel wear plate. As solid a road pedal as I have ever used.

Regards,
Greg

[csbmo]

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[bonkmeister]

Perfect- Brooks Swallow on Kent Eriksen Ti Sweetpost

[johnnymossville]

Late 80's Suntour Superbe Pro Rear Derailleur.

[Too Tall]

on my very short list

[Ken Robb]

this is a difficult one for me to answer because all of my stuff, Campy and Shimano, works great. I agree that 7800 brakes are better by a slight margin than my others but since I like to ride tires as wide as 32mm (more w/cantis) I won't be buying more of them..I think the best set-up for them would be w/Campy levers so I'd have a release in the lever and the caliper so I wouldn't have to deflate a 28mm tire to install it.

OK, here's one: If you want to try friction shifting perfection get some Suntour Power Ratchets of the Rivendell Silvers which are copies currently in production.

[WFSTEKL]

Regal saddle----cannot be improved
Mavic GP4 and Ambrosio Nemisis rims----cannot be improved
PegoRichie tubing----cannot be improved
Veloflex Crit tubs----cannot be improved
Cinelli Mod 66 or Mod 64 or Mod 65 handlebars-----cannot be improved
Specialized waterbottles----cannot be improved
Sachs lugs, BB and crown----cannot be improved
Assos S5 Millie bibs----cannot be improved
White bikes----cannot be improved
Mike Zanconatto----cannot be improved